Record album



F. ADAM RECORD ALBUM Sept. 4, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 5, 1946 F. ADAM RECORD ALBUM Sept. 4, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 5, 1946 Invenmw PA m F. ADAM RECORD ALBUM Sept. 4, '1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Sept. 5, 71946 InvenTor' F. ADAM RECORD ALBUM Sept. 4, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Sept. 5, 1946 Elgard am, wima.

Patented Sept. 4, 1951 RECORD ALBUM Folger Adam, J oliet, Ill., assignor to Thomas A. Banning, Jr., Chicago, Ill.

Application September 3, 1946, Serial No. 694,554

2 Claims. (01. 20662) 6 The present invention has to do with improvements in record albums, and the like. These albums are widely used for holding and storing phonograph records in orderly fashion, and frequently according to various groupings of such records, such as groupings of the records of se lected symphonies, concertos, and other recordings. Heretofore it has generally been the custtom to provide these albums with pockets or separators within or between which the several records are placed, so that when the album is closed each record is carried within its individual pocket or space. When thus stored these individual records stand on edge when the album is set into a cabinet or other suitable place; and when each record is contained in its own pocket it is evident that the weight of such record is carried primarily by the bottom of such pocket. These pockets are generally made of paper of suitable weight, but nevertheless the weight of the con tained record is generally such that such a relatively flimsy pocket is incapable of holding the weight of the record for more than a relatively short time, if at all, without the record becoming lowered to a position such that its weight eventually rests directly on its lower edge portion, and is sustained directly by the shelf or other place of storage. In this process it is evident that if the pocket is originally designed to sustain the records weight, such weight must be taken by the bottom portion of the paper or other mate rial from which the pocket is made; and in due course of time the result is generally that the back portion of the pocket which is connected to the back of the album becomes distorted sufficiently to allow the record to press the pocket down until the weight of the record itself is carried directly by the shelf or other supporting medium. This result almost invariably follows a relatively short interval of storage of the records in the album, notwithstanding that the pockets themselves may be made of relatively stiff andstrong paper stock.

It is furthermore evident that when the records are sustained directly by the pockets which in turn are hinged to the back of the album, the entire and combined weight of all the records, possibly as many as a dozen records, must be carried by this album back. This weight is transmitted to the pockets at a position approximately half-way across the width of the album from the back of the album; and with records of standard sizes of ten and twelve inches diameter, it is evident that. the weight of the records is transmitted to the back through a turning moment of five or six inches. This fact, combined with the very substantial weight of the records themselves, means that, if the records are to be sustained entirely by the record album and free of direct support by engagement of the lower edge portions of the records with the shelf, the back of the album will be subjected to a very large bending and distorting moment due to the weight of the contained records. Since the back of the album is itself hinged to the album covers by relatively flimsy hinged connections, it is further evident that such bending moment will be transmitted to the covers through such flimsy hinges, with the result that the album itself will be distorted and its appearance will soon be correspondingly impaired. These results must necessarily follow if the weights of the records are to be continuously carried by the individual pockets, and without said pockets sagging to allow the edges of the records to find direct support by the surface of the shelf or other supporting element.

It is therefore evident that either or both of the foregoing undesirable results must follow from the continued use of such record albums as have heretofore been extensively known and used; either the backs of the albums will become distorted and the hinges between the backs and the album covers will become distorted or eventually torn; or else the individual pockets them selves will become distorted and eventually torn or broken; or both of these undesirable results will be found to occur.

There have in the past been devised various schemes to mount and support the individual records on a stud or the like extending across the thickness of the album, on which stud the several records are mounted by stringing their center holes on such stud. Generally these studs have been supported by one of the album covers in permanent fashion, and frequently such stud has been engaged by the other cover when the album is in closed condition, so that thereby the stud is given support at both ends during the interval of album closure. However, when the album is opened it is evident that the weight of the records strung on the stud must be sus tained and supported solely by such stud, if the records are to be sustained free of the shelf or other supporting medium. Therefore, at such times the back cover of the album is necessarily subjected to a large twisting moment, since the weight of the records lies in a plane forward (or backward) of the plane of the cover itself by an amount equal to substantially one half of the combined thickness of the records then in place is to provide a record; album of the-stud type, that is, the type in which the records are strung 3' onto a stud secured to one of the covers, but which album is provided with means to directly support and carry such stud as a portion of.

the back of the album itself, andgenerally without the interposition of any hinged connection between the so-supportedstud and the back of the album. In other words,- thealbum's hereinv disclosed are generally provided with a non; articulated or non-hinged back portion (or front portion) whichconstitutes and is really a portionof the back 'o f-"the album itself; and the stud is then secured directly to' this so non:- articulated or non-hingedcover element, so that all the forces of weight placed on such stud by the records strung thereon are transmitted directly to the rest of the album which is nonarticulated or -nonehinged" to such cover and stud. Since thebackof the 'album "extends horizontally a distance at "least equal to the combined thickness of the supported records; and since the said stud'really "constitutes a 'portion'of, or is rigidly connected ftOSIlCh back ofthe album, it is furtherevident that thisarra'n'gement serves to ensure provision'of ab'a'se'fo'r the album, which base is of suflicient horizontal-"dimension trans= versely of-the album, to carry the full weight of the sustained flecords, within the projected area of such base. Thus "there is no overturning tendency due to thdwightof the records,

providing, ofcourse that the album is placed on a substantiallyhorizontal surface, such as t a shelf;

Another way off-stating' thi's feature of the present invention is as follows:

I provide a -stucl*'-which is primarily intended -z do to actas a support on which the records contained in the album are hung; This stud is in turn rigidly connected to 'andsupported by a cover or anelernent-gconne'ctedto and comprising in 'effecta portionof such cover, which element is of "sufiicientrigid-ity to efie'ctively support the stud and the weight of' the records strung thereon, the connection between the stud and such cover or cover-element being of sumcient strength to enable the stud to carry its 'of records solely by attachment -'of the stud at one end to such coveror cover element. By this means the weight of the contained records is supported solely by said stud; which stud is in turn supportedsolely at its end which is connected to tl'ie'coverior to-the-cover element. I then provide for such cover-or cover element a suitable stand or base support whereby said cover or cover element is effectively supported in vertical position, thus givingefiective suppert to hold the stud'in "horizontal position at the distance above theshelf-"ortable on which the stand or base is placect; so that the contained records are supported withtheir-edges completely above such shelf or table or other element. Such support for the -c'over'or cover-element may be in the formof'a back for the album proper; saidv back having a dimension transversely of the album (thickness) 'suffgcient to provide. the required base area for the album as 'a whole 4 so that said album will stand on the horizontal shelf or table Without other support. In this case such back of the album may constitute a rigid portion of the rigid cover or cover element, so that these two parts (back and cover or cover element) constitute an unarticulated combination of L-shape cross-section; or said back portion and a d. ri id cover. or cover lement may be hinged together with a definite; hinged connection of such construction that no appreciable bending or distortion may take place as between the back section and the cover or cover element at; the position of such hinged connection, so that. the required base is always provided between thebackfsection and" the lower edge of the cover or cover element, even though the back section and the cover element are not in exact rightangular. position with respect to each other. Such a hinged connection is to be distinctly dif ferentiated fromsuch a flimsy hinged connection as is providedbytheclothhinges gene ally provided betweenthe back sections andthe cover elements of such record amums as heretofore constructed. 7

When the back section and the cover or cover element are rigidly connected together (without such hinged connection) it is evident that a very simple and inexpensivetype ofconstructionmay be used, since the cover-or cover element may be in theform-of a plateof sheet 'inetal or very stifi plastic orother 'mate'riaLeither integral with the rigid back section, or r ig idl y "connected thereto, either by screwing, welding, riveting, cementing, or-bya gripping or: other rigid connection, or otherwise. It is also'ei/ ident that since the objective ofproviding arigid support for the stud requires only that such support extend downwardly from the stud to the shelfor table or other surface by which the album is supported, suchrigid 'plat'eor other element need not extend above the height ofthe stud; and that portion of the'cover-to which'the stud is connected, or to which thecover-elementis connected, above suchheight may beformed ofrelatively light, and inexpensive, and even of flexible material, or other-material -suitable for the; construction of such-covers;

The rigid coveror cover-element tow hich-the stud is connected, and by'which-the stud is solely supported, may find "directsupport- :by the-"shelfor table on which the-album is supported, so that said rigid cover or cover element' constitutes a point ofsupport for the albumandits contents.- Such support thus efiected by therigid cover or cover element may be in the formof edge contact thereof with-the-shelfor-table, or said cover or cover element itselfmaybe-provided with a transversely extending orright-angular extension at its loweredge which-transverse extension'will insuch case constitutea base which will eriectively'supportthe album and its contents on the sh'elforata-ble; I'n 's-u'chcasesuch extension may be made of'suflicient transverse dimension to providesuch effective-support as is needed, Such'transve'rse -extens ion furrigid thermore extend the full length--cf-thecover or cover section, "or 'maybxtend only a three point support for the vertical rigid cover' or cover section. i i

If desired a suitable form of lock or latch may be provided for connecting the other cover section to the rigid cover section or element, to thereby secure both covers in closed position; the stud being of such length that these covers may be brought into such fully closed position relative to each other.

Frequently it will be desirable to provide means on or in connection with the free end of the stud to retain the records in place on such stud, and irrespective of the closing of the two covers together. I have therefore herein disclosed several forms of such means to retain the records in place on the stud, as will be hereinafter shown. Such means may be completely supported by and constitute solely a portion ofthe stud, or-such means may be carried by and constitute a portion of the cover which does not carry the stud. In this latter case, too, such means may also constitute means to lock the two covers together in the sense that the non-stud carrying cover may thereby be locked or connected to the free end of the stud which stud is itself rigidly connectedto the other cover or cover element. 7

Other objects and uses of the invention will appear from a detailed description of the same, which consists in the features of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter described and claimed In the drawings:

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a record album embodying features of my present invention, and itshowsby dottedlines one form of rigid cover or section to which the record supporting stud is rigidly connected, and the rigid cover or cover section being rigidly connected to the back section, and there beingprovided a latch to connect the two covers together if desired;

Figure 2 shows a plan view corresponding to Figure 1;

Figure 3 shows a perspective view of the rigid cover section and the rigid back section to which said cover section is non-hingedly connectecL'said rigid cover section being provided with a rigidly connected stud, and Figure 3 is on enlarged scale as compared to Figures 1 and 2; the elements shown in Figure 3 constituting an assemblysec tion;

Figure 4 shows an enlarged fragmentary view.

of the rigid connection between the rigidcover section and the rigid back section; the rigid connection shown in Figure 4 including a series of triangular lugs stamped from the body of the sheet metal from which the cover section itself is formed, and said lugs being pressed into the body of the back section, or being moulded in said body if desired; and the rigid cover section being also cemented or otherwise rigidly con:- nected to the rigid back section, if desired; v

Figure 5 shows a fragmentary horizontal sec tion taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 4, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 6 shows a perspective view of one forin of the rigid stud which is rigidly connected to the rigid cover section; the stud shown in this figure being provided with an eccentrically pivoted end element which is of size to permit the records to be set over said element when said element is turned into surface alignment with the body of the stud, and said eccentrically pivoted element naturally dropping down into interferingpositionj after the records have been set onto the studto other assistance;

Figure 7 shows afragmentary horizontal section through a stud of the form shown in Figure 6, and throughthe rigid cover section to which said stud is rigidly connected, the front cover being also shown adjacent to the end of the stud, being in cover closed position; and this figure also shows a number of records strung onto the stud and supported thereby;

Figure 8 shows a perspective View of a modified form of the rigid cover and stud assembly, in which therigid cover plate or cover element to which thestud is rigidly connected, being provided with a bottom or base pedestal which may find direct support on the surface of the shelf or table on which 'the album is supported; this figure also being on enlarged scale as compared to Figures 1 and 2;

Figure 9 shows a fragmentary horizontal sec tion similar to that of Figure 7, but it shows a modified form of stud and modified form of front cover element, as compared to the construction shown in Figures 6 and 7, this modification consisting in the provision of a socket in the end of the stud, and the provision of a companion or male element on the other cover section, so that when the two cover sections are closed together such male element will enter into the socket of the end of the stud to retain the records in place on the stud by co-operation between the two covers themselves when said covers are closed together;

Figure 10 shows another modified form of stud on still further enlarged scale as compared to Figures 6, 7 and 9, the stud construction shown in Figure 10 including a slot or like opening formed in the end portion of the stud together with a spring clip set into said slot and riveted or otherwise secured in place therein, the free ends of said clip being suitably formed to provide abrupt surfaces which will spring into record retaining positions when the clip is allowed to extend under its own spring action to thus retain the records in place on the stud;

Figure 11 shows still another modified form of stud construction, together with a modified form of companion element formed or placed on the other cover of the album; this arrangement .including a suitable groove or recess formed in the surface of the end portion of the stud, and a companion spring clip secured to the companion cover, so that when the covers are closed together this spring clip will spring over and engagewith the groove or recess of the stud and thus secure the two covers together and also to retain the records in place on the stud;

Figure 12 shows still another modified form of rigid cover or cover element, and stud rigidly connected thereto, said cover or cover element being shown as hinged to the rigid back section by a hinged connection of such form that it non-deflecting and of such construction that the rigid cover section is retained in definite relation to the rigid back section so that the cover and back sections together will provide a definite base to support the album on a shelf or table or other supporting surface; and

I Figure 13 shows still another modified form of construction embodying my present invention, wherein the stud extends in both directions from the rigid stud-supporting plate, so that records may be strung on both projections of said stud.

'- Referring'first' to Figures 1 and 2, the record album her'eindisclosed is'provided with the two 1; cover elements, 2.0 and. 2;lof. size? appropriate; to; accommodate the records intended. :tovbe contained; in such album, generally either ten: or twelve inch in diameter; This; album also includes the backasection 22. to which both. of the. covers are connected. The cover element 20- also includes the stud 23' which projects towards: they cover element 21, and on which stud the; records are intended. to Y bestrung. by setting; their. central openings over suchstudin. the: well understood manner. This studis; of. such. length as is required to accommodate the..-intended-num.- ber of records to be accommodatedinthaalbum and likewise the back section :22: is'made; of corresponding widthso that thetwo. covers-may bev brought into parallelism (closed condition) to: bring the inner surface'of. theiront cover. close to or. against the free end. of. the: stud,;andto close the album with the recordsiinsplaee on the- V stud.

The loweredge portion-1 of the cover element 20 is-carried down -to.such. pointthat. said lower edge, together with the. lower end-of. the backsection 22, may constitute a. basesupport. for the, album and its record contents. Thus-the stud is placed at an. elevation abovev thelower edge of the cover element 2!! at least-as great as the radius of the. contained records, andin fact. at a distance above saidloWer-edge. some what. reater thansuchradius so as to ensure that. the records. strung on. the. studv will. be sup.- pcrted solely. by the studand withoutedge contact of said records with the shelf or table onwhich the; album is placed. Evidentlynunder these conditions the. full weight of..all..-the.contained recordson the; studlmustbe vsustainedsolely by such.-

stud; and furthermore, since. such study is gen-- erally. supported. solely. by. its connection to...the cover element .29 it follows thatsuch, connection, and also the. cover. element. 20... itself, and: the. connection of said coverelement to thabac'k sec.- tion 22, must lee-such; asto enableall-these parts. to; effectively receive. and. sustain therelatively. largeforces whicharethus imposeddue. to. the. weight of the supported records, sometimes as. many as tenor twelve records.

Since .it. is desirable to. form. the.c.ov.er element. Edproper of relatively. light. material}. in. order. to reduce. the. weight. of. thealbum, and alsois. desirable touse relatively. inexpensive material, such as paperstock orcardboardrorthe like in. its manufacture. itis at. once seenthat. such-a. cover body is hot-of. suffici'ent-strength. and. of itself to effectively supporhthe stud without. bending or distortion ofsuch cover element ,sufiiz ciently to allow the records 'tolsag untilthey'find: direct contact with and support :by the surfacecn which the album is. placed: snehrsaggingalso distorts the cover itself and: producesan on sightly appearance; as well 1 as. soon: causing, the cover to become torn and;damagedotherwise. It is a prime featureofmypresentinvention that I have provided alvery stiiiyora rigid support'ccon stituting a portion 'at-.least'of:cneeof:-thescovers-of; the album, to; which: the: record? supporting stud; is. rigidly connected atq-right.anglestorthe" plane of such'cover'element, together. with :a very stiff or rigid back sectionztoavhich-"saidsstudsupportis itself connected; in such-:manner that" no distortion cani'occur 'asbetweensaid backsection and; said stud support In. theI arrangement shown in Figureszlx and-a2; and elsewhere; inthe drawings; this stud: support comprises the stiffplate 24; preferably. oizsheetri metalofizsufliciently thick: gagei to: afiordzthei reqnireistififness: 88:

and 2.8. (see Figures! ands), which conveniently ures. 3-4, 5. and-' 8,. this platev 24 is rigidly and unarticulatedly connected to the back section 22;; scrthat both the plate. 24 andthe back section. cannotyield with" respect to each other about. any axis of yield. They are thus constrained-to retain-their. right-angular. relationship. with respect to: eachother at: all-times, and. anyforce. which; would. be sufficient to effect a material: deflection of the studagainst the position. o1

the. back section. would be much. greater than.

any force. torwhich. the stud might be. possibly. subjected merely by reason of thetplacement of? therecordsnormally in placeon such. stud.

The back section. 22. may be formed of. wood, or. may besofmetal, or may conveniently be. formed. of plastic. material of suitable. stiffness; and strengthto. tmeetsthe. needs. of theicase. Or, itdesired, both-the stiff plate andthis back.sec.-. tion 22 may be madev integral withrespect, to. each other. Thus. they might be formed in..- tegrally, of. plastic orof. very light metal,v such..as. magnesium. alloy or. aluminium. alloy or. the. like. or otherwise attached, to the: plate. 24, as by Welding,,or.insomecases this .stud may be formed;

' inte'gralwith.thesaid plate as by suitably form.-

ing a plastic body. In any case, however, the. requirement of stiffness suiiicientto carry the loadiot thesupportedrecords is. a prime considerationn Inthe. arrangementshown .in.Figures 1,2, 3,.4l andfi the. stiff. plate. 2.41s .providedwitha. number. of triangular. shaped. projections 26. which. are. formedat rightanglesto the. plane of. suchstifff plate;. andthese projections are; shownas being forced'into. .the body; of. the wood back. section.

22 to bring the surface of the plate 2 3 into facial. contact with. the. edge. of the..back section;. and preferably cement or other adhesive is also porvided to. connectthesurface of thesplateto. the back. section, addition to. the. provision. at".- forded by. suchntrianglllarprojections. .Thus the. plate-211$: very, strongly, connected. to the. back. section .22}. so. that theistud 23. is,- in..turn,. also afiorded; very. sti'fi. and; unyielding. support vfrom. tliebac'ksection... Thustthe. support of. said. stud. is effected directly from the stiff back sectiom and. doesnotdepend onthebody, of. the cover element. itself;

8.2.i'dicover element. is. formed by the paper. stock tor. otherlight. material sheet. or sheets .21.

embracethestiffsheet support 241 between them.

toprovidaaneat. andfinished appearancev for the.

cover. element;. but. it. is. evident that these. fi'nishing sheets. which :in. fact constitute. the :body of; thoseeportionsof. the cover. which extend. lee-- yond theconflnes; of. thepstifi; sheet '24 do. not afiord;-any. .portion. ot-the support for the-record carrying. stud, and are. completely supplemental. to said stud supporting sheettfl. In. factasrfarasttheeactual supporting.- of the: stud itselfis concerned; these-sheets? 2"! and. ZB-might beelimihated.-

vl .Iow .itis: evident from. examination.v OfllFiE? ure-.-.3.:.andp. others, that; evenv without thepres. ence-ofthe-finishing sheets. 2'! and. 28 therstiif: plates 24 isagiven. adequateasupport on;the.shelf 01: table, becausevthe, lower. edge portion. of. the said; sheet. together-with. the lower:- endi of; the. baclcsectionflh provide. a. supporting: base; hazy- The. stud may-either be riveted. or screwed ing sufflciently large dimensions at right angles to each other to ensure upright stability of the device (composed of the plate 24' and the back section 22), even when the stud is fully occupied by records strung thereon. Then, due to the stiffness of the plate 24 and the unyielding nature of the connection between saidplate and the back section 22, and the strong connection of the stud to the plate 24, it is evident that the records will be fully supported at all times by hanging on the stud, and without any contact of their lower edge portions with the supporting surface on which the device is placed.

In Figure 8 I have shown a modified form of the stiff plate 24 (designated as 24*). In this case the said plate is itself provided at its lower edge with the right-angular extension 29 which may 7 be of a horizontal dimension at least as great as the transverse dimension (thickness) of the album. This projection 29 is preferably formed directly beneath the location of the stud 23 so that thus there is afforded a full base for supporting the weight of the records by direct transmission of such weight from the stud downwardly to this base extension 25, and without the need of first transferring any portion of such weight to the back section 22. Of course when such tranverse extension is provided in combination with the rigid connection to the back section 22, the said back section affords further transverse stability to the device, and also affords a material extension of the dimension of the rigid base lengthwise of the album.

The rigid connection of the stud to the stiff plate 24 (or 24a) may be effected in any suitable manner, as by a riveting connection shown in Figures 9 and 7, at the points 3|] and 3|, respectively. In various of the other figures the stud itself is shown as provided with an end portion 32 of reduced size which is set through a suitable hole of the stiff plate and then secured by an upsetting operation in well understood manner.

The cover element 2| may be any convenient construction since it does not have to perform any mechanical or load supporting function, other than that due to its own weight. Conveniently such cover element 2| is formed from sheets or laminations of paper stock in the usual manner, and to the desired thickness and finish, but without the need of making special provision for stiffness as far as the presence of the records contained in the album is concerned.

Furthermore, the cover element 2| is preferably hinged to the back section 22 along the edge 33 as shown in Figure 1, such hinging being effected in convenient manner, as by the strip of strong flexible material 34 cemented to the edge portion of the surface of the cover 2| and to the surface of the back section 22. It is seen in Figure 1 that this strip is shown as being carried over the edge portion of the hinged cover element so as to efiect connection thereto, but that said strip does not extend over that portion of the other cover element 20 which lies to the right of the back section 22, since in Figure 1 said back cover element is rigidly connected to the cover section 22, and is therefore unyielding with respect thereto. Now it is evident that as far as the provision of a supporting base for the stiff plate which carries the stud is concerned, such base may be either a combination of the said stiff plate and the back section 22, or may be comprised solely of the lower edge portion of such stiff plate, as in Figure 8, or may comprise both such lower portion of said plate and the back section 22 as shown in Figure 8 or inFigure 3. It is also evident that as far as this rigidity of support is concerned it is not necessary that the back section 22 and the said stiff plate lie directly at right angles to each other, provided that they do'have substantially such right-angular relation when it is desired to stand the album on the shelf or table in self supporting condition, and provided that when in such other position of angularity these elements are so connected together. that they cannot yield about any axis other than that line on which their planes intersect, and that they be of suitably stiff material to ensure proper support for the stud in horizontal position while carrying its load of records. Accordingly I have shown still another modified form of my improved albums in Figure 12. In that figure the stiff plate 24* is shown as being hinged. to the back section 22 by the vertical hinge 35 extending substantially the full height of the stiff plate 24 so as to provide a very great degree of rigidity about a horizontal axis. This hinge is to be definitely differentiated from any form of hinge composed of cloth or other yieldable material or material of such flimsy nature as to be unable to afford the vertical stiffness required to ensure that the stud shall be so supported at all times that it will be retained in horizontal position, even when fully loaded with records of large size. In other words, in this modified arrangement of Figure 12 this hinge is of itself of such construction and strength that it is able to afford definite hinging action as between the stiff stud supporting plate 24 and the stiff back section 22, so that even when the plate 24 is not at right angles to the back section 22 no defiection of the plate can occur, other than a definite and controlled hinging action along the line of the hinge, and so that during such hinging action the stud is itself held strongly at right anglesto the plane of the plate 24 so that the records strung on such stud will still be sustained solely by hanging on thestud, and not by any direct edge support of such records on the surface of the shelf or table or other surface. It is also noted that this hinging construction is also shown in Figure 12 in conjunction with the provision of the lower edge pedestal portion 29 similar to the pedestal 29 shown in Figure 8.

In the constructions shown in Figures 8 and 12, wherein the stiff plate 24* or 2, as: the case may be, is provided at its lower edge portion with the right-angular extension 29' or 29*, it is seen that such extension, considered in conjunc tion with the stud 23 constitutes a U -shaped member, the lower leg of which constitutes a base to find support directly onthe supporting surface, the upper leg of such U-shaped member comprising the stud, and the connecting portion of such U-shaped member comprising the connection between these parts. It is seen that with this arrangement the stud is very strongly held in horizontal position, the load is transferred directly from such stud to the supporting surface;

and the stud will not sag or bend from-its intended horizontal position, the vertical'connecting element being of sufficient stiffness to prevent such action. With this arrangementthe other (generally front) cover serves, in connection with the back section, primarily as an enclosing element, to give protection to the records thus supported on the stud, and, on occasion,

to retainsaid records thus in place on the stud.

'I have also :provided means to retain thereoords so strung-on the stud from becoming disen aged therefrom. Such means I shall now describe:

In "the form of'Figures 1 and 2'I'have provided the catch or'hasp 35 generally securedto the cover element :20 and :of size to extend over and he snapped orotherwise connected to the edge portion of the cover element 2! to thereby hold the covers in closed position in well understood manner. The stud itself is then made of size to extendclose to or into contact with the inside surface of the cover element 2i so that when the covers are thus locked together by such hasp :the records are also retained on the stud, and are prevented from becoming disengaged from the stud as long as the album is sojlocked in closed condition.

In the scheme shown in Figures 6 and 7 I have provided the small plate 36 at the end of the stud, such plate being pivotally connected to the end of the stud by the small pin 37. This pin 3;! is eccentrically placed so that when the small :plate .36 is released it will naturally fall into such a position as that shown in Figure 6 wherein it extends below the cylindrical confines .of the stud (extended), thus preventing the records from becoming released from the stud; but the arrangement is such that by rotating this small plate through substantially one- F half turn it will be brought into registry with the cylindrical surface of the stud, so that thercupon'the records may bereleased or placed on the stud asdesired. The .gravitational effect of this eccentric pivoting willbe found to efiective- 1y retain :the small plate in its locking position after said plate has been released and turned at least part way around towards its locking posi tion.

In the modified arrangement shown in Figure '10 1I have-provided the inwardly extending slot 38 in theend portion of the stud, together with :the inwardly extending socket 39 communicating with said slotted portion; and within this slotted and 'socketed opening I place the U-shaped spring element 40, vofspring wire or narrowspring leaf. The connecting or inner end portion ll is riveted or otherwise secured to the floor .of the socket, and the biasing of the U-shaped element is such that its arms naturally spring out into contact with the axially extending walls of the socket, as shown in Figure wherein said spring element is :in its normally spread condition. The free ends of this spring element are formed with the outwardly extending abruptly formed pontions #3, terminating in the slanting forward extensions 44 which finally terminate within the confines of theslotted portion when the spring arms are fully released or expanded into the position shown in Figure 10. As thus expanded the center hole of a record may be slipped over the end portion of the stud and over the slanting portions 44, thereby compressing the arms of the spring element momentarily towards each other; and as the surface of the record passes the abrupt portions 44' the spring arms will snap outwardly thus locking the record .in place on the stud; but such record may thereafter be readily released from the stud by compressing such slanting portions together sufficiently.

,In the modified arrangement shown in Figure 11 the stud itself is provided with an encircling groove 45, or with a pair of oppositel placed recesses; and the cover element 2! is provided with aspring clip element 46 having the sprin -means of the thin plate 5i secured to lOI comprising a portion of the coverselement 2h The stud 50 is so :positioned on the cover element 2| that when the album isclosed said stud fiflwill telescope into the socket A9 of the stud 23, thus locking the records .in place on'the stud as long as the album remains in closed condition. Preferablysuch arrangementsasthoseshown in Figures 9 and 11 for retaining the records in place on the studs should be used in connection with means to lock the albumcovers in closed condition,-such as the haspshown in Figure'l, or other suitable album locking means may be .used "in place of such hasp. V

In the embodiment of features of my present invention shown in Figure 13, I have provided the rigid stud supporting plate 24 located centrally of the back element-22 so'that said back element extends to both sides orfaces of the plate. The connection between the place 24 and the back element 22 may be madein any convenient manner; but in the scheme shown in Figure 13 the back element is slotted to receive the edge portion of the plate 26, said edge por --tion being inserted into such slot, and retained therein. Such retentionmay be ensured by the tightness of the fit of the plate in the slot; but preferably also additional retention is provided :by cementing the edge of the plate in the slot, and/or by use of transversely extending rivets,- screws, pins, or other retaining elements.

The record supportingstud 23 extends to both sides of the plate 24, the extensions at both sides conveniently being of equal amounts. The cen-- tral portion of thisstud may berigidly connected to the plate in any convenient manner, asf-by welding or the like. The extension :of this stud ateach sideof the plate shouldbeapproximately "the same distance as the extensionof the back element beyond the faceof the plate at thatside of the plate. Preferably also-the plate M is provided at its lower edge with lateral extensions 52 at one side, and 53 at the other side, these extensions providing a base or pedestal support for the rigid plate. These extensions it will be noted, are located beneath the stud extension, so that the loads of records carried by these stud extensions will be transferred directly to this pedestal support. It will be understood that these stud projections at the two sides of the plate may be of equal or different amounts, but generally they will be of equal amount. Thus the record storage capacity of such an album may be double that of an album of conventional form, or an album having the stud projection at only one side of the plate.

It will be understood that suitable covers may be hinged or otherwise connected to the edges of the back element, so that when said covers areswung into closed position the records at bothsides of the album are given proper protection. I have not specifically illustrated such covers in- Figure 13, as a matter of convenience in illustration; but it will be understood that such covers when provided are convenientl hinged to the 13 back element substantially along the lines 54 and 55.

While I have herein shown and described only certain embodiments of the features of my present invention, still I do not intend to limit myself thereto, except as I may do so in the claims to follow.

I claim:

1. A record album intended for standing support on a shelf or other substantially horizontal surface, said album including a back element and a rigid stud-supporting plate said plate extending from the back element substantially at right angles to one face of said back element, the back element extending to both sides of the so located stud-supporting plate, and record supporting stud projections carried by said rigid plate and projecting from the plate at both sides thereof, said projections at the two sides of the plate being substantially equal in amount to the extensions of the back element beyond the faces of the studsupporting plate, whereby records may be simultaneously strung on the stud projections at both sides of the plate, substantially as described.

2, A record album as defined in claim 1, to-

14 gether with pedestal projections on the lower portion of the stud-supporting plate and projecting to both sides of said plate by amounts of projection substantially at least equal to the projections of the stud elements at the respective sides of the plate, to thereby provide base supports for the stud-supporting plate, substantially as described.

FOLGER ADAM.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,255,690 Barlow Feb. 5, 1918 1,320,958 Albrecht et al. Nov. 4, 1919 1,585,846 Frisbie May 25, 1926 1,852,963 Fladmark Apr. 5, 1932 2,494,359 Roth Jan. 10, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 177,309 Great Britain Mar. 30, 1922 

